Discussion Space Shuttle Vessel - Payload Development Thread

[GLS]

So, to keep things a bit more organized, here is a thread for devs and users to discuss the development of payloads for Space Shuttle Vessel.


A quick recap of the current payload support:

• PRLA (passive and active)
• sidewall-mounted (and keel)
• longeron-mounted
• SPDS

What to expect in the future (in no particular order):

• 3 PAM types
• several GAS canister types
• 2 RMS
• middeck (probably mass only)
• IUS variants and related
• lattice mounted payload for Centaur G
• IUS propellant calculator (should be included in the next release)
• payload bay preview on the pad (included in the next release)

Also, if anything in the documentation regarding the payload interface is missing or not clear, please mention it, so that can be improved.

 

[gattispilot]

Thanks.
So Maybe this for STS3. The DFI are modules to grab/dettach the payload PDP or IECM
j/k while focused on the structure.

I still need a texture for the IECM and maybe DFI

 

[GLS]

The DFI are modules to grab/dettach the payload PDP or IECM

BTW, does that use the same attachment as the Spartan?
I still have some reading to do, to be 100% sure, but it seems like the Spartan latches were driven by the same circuits as the PRLAs, thus the switches on panel A6U.... now I have to figure out a way to wire that up...

 

[DaveS]

Speaking of SPARTAN; I've had this one laying around forever, should I finish it?

 

[gattispilot]

BTW, does that use the same attachment as the Spartan?
I still have some reading to do, to be 100% sure, but it seems like the Spartan latches were driven by the same circuits as the PRLAs, thus the switches on panel A6U.... now I have to figure out a way to wire that up...

I believe so. It is hard to tell from photos. I think I have seen where some have a notch so the Spartan would guide in and move to the side , I guess to lock in.

@DaveS YES on the Spartan

 

[gattispilot]

As I understand it any additional payload controls would be here, right?
Here is a close up from STS4 spartan? guides,
On the IECM. I tried to cut the top and recess the panels rather than reusing the STSpayloads texture. But the one on the left look too dark/blue

 

[GLS]

As I understand it any additional payload controls would be here, right?

Yeah, but I have not even thought of a way to interface with payloads.... I have some background work going on trying to "generalize" the Standard Switch Panels for use by the upper stages, so maybe something can be build on that... but this is not happening anytime soon.

 

[DaveS]

Yeah, but I have not even thought of a way to interface with payloads.... I have some background work going on trying to "generalize" the Standard Switch Panels for use by the upper stages, so maybe something can be build on that... but this is not happening anytime soon.

Not just upper stages but other payloads as well, like the HST Space Support Equipment (SSE), which is the various carriers as well as the Flight Support System (FSS). All of that was controlled through Standard Switch Panels.

 

[gattispilot]

I guess the standard switch panel would go in the aft port side?
I wonder if just a panel mesh could be made as part of the payload. And it overlaid in the cockpit?

Inner action might be another thing. But do we know what each panel looked like?
I am thinking for STS 5 where you have the Satellite spinning. Would there some meter? that showed the rpm?

For me that is why I made the control Window so you could control the payloads. If I know what STS 3, standard panel controls looked like then maybe I could try to add that along with the STS3 payload?

 

[GLS]

I guess the standard switch panel would go in the aft port side?
I wonder if just a panel mesh could be made as part of the payload. And it overlaid in the cockpit?

Inner action might be another thing.

It would show up, but there would be no interaction, so it would be kind of useless...

But do we know what each panel looked like?

I know the upper stages used the SSP, and I think some switches could be allocated to its payload.
Other payloads could use the SSP or make their own panel... but I have no idea on how to support that.

I am thinking for STS 5 where you have the Satellite spinning. Would there some meter? that showed the rpm?

The spin motors were automatically controlled by the PAM ASE as part of the deploy sequence and, if I remember correctly, only the motor voltage was displayed to the crew in one (or 2?) of the CRT displays.

For me that is why I made the control Window so you could control the payloads. If I know what STS 3, standard panel controls looked like then maybe I could try to add that along with the STS3 payload?

For now payloads have to provide the control for themselves, either by window or keyboard input.


BTW: in the current implementation, the IUS and Centaur stages have the capability to send discrete commands to the attached payload (described in the manual), so the user can deploy or enable something before the separation from the stage.

 

[DaveS]

BTW: in the current implementation, the IUS and Centaur stages have the capability to send discrete commands to the attached payload (described in the manual), so the user can deploy or enable something before the separation from the stage.

Magellan would be a great example of that as the solar arrays were deployed prior to the IUS SRM-1 burn and the same would have been true if the original plan to launch it on a Centaur G on STS-81I would have held.

 

[gattispilot]

I guess for right now the use of control from the module should be the way, right? So focus on payload and press a key and it does something.
This is why I used control boxes. Because you can focus something else while the box is open and still be able to control it.
For example the ASE. The ASE mesh is just a frame and 2 doors. The doors would have he logo from different missions. focus on the ASE and open the control box. Now you could focus back on the shuttle and tell the ASE to start the spin. and when it reaches 50 tell it to release.
For appearance sake a standard panel could be seem in the cockpit. And the animation of the switch control by the control window?

What controlled the ASE? to open the sun doors,....

 

[GLS]

For appearance sake a standard panel could be seem in the cockpit. And the animation of the switch control by the control window?

The actual panel didn't control everything in the PAM ASE, so replicating it won't work. Just make a simple window with buttons for each function.

What controlled the ASE? to open the sun doors,....

Power and some backup features where controlled from the associated SSP panel, but from the crew side the main commanding and monitoring came from the SM GPC, which talked to the ASE electronics, which then commanded electrical motors and the pyros.

 

[DaveS]

Decided to remake the SPARTAN-201 from scratch as I found too many issues with my old one that I previewed earlier. Just took me a day. Nearly done, just lacks some final hardware. Anyone working on the SPARTAN-201 MPESS for this one to be berthed on?

 

[gattispilot]

I had this. for sts2016 sts56 it had controls for attachment for eva and Spartan. I could add more to this if needed.

 

[gattispilot]

This is for STS5 ASE. from what I can tell there were no logos on the sun shields. But here with this window you can focus on the sat or shuttle and operate the ASE.

 

[gattispilot]

Not sure is anyone is working on payloads. But this is what I have for STS 5. 2 independent ASE with control windows.

 

[gattispilot]

STS6 is going to interesting. There are a couple of factors and issues to solve. Basically the Cradle rotates and then as the cradle rotates the IUS follows. The IUS is attached to the cradle. BUT the rotation points are off so you get a shift. In STS and mine STS2016 we altered the cradle to fix that.

I think for it to work there needs to be a frame vessel with a parent attachment at the cradle pivot. Then a cradle vessel. the cradle vessel has a parent attachment for IUS. and then a child one at the axle point. But you need to separate controls. one that rotates the cradle and then one to release the IUS.

We have drawings of the ASE cradle and frame. BUT just images of the gauge. I suspect that you could see it from the cameras?

Like the ASE for STS 5. A key to raise/lower the cradle to different angles. with stops at 29, 45, 58

 

[DaveS]

STS6 is going to interesting. There are a couple of factors and issues to solve. Basically the Cradle rotates and then as the cradle rotates the IUS follows. The IUS is attached to the cradle. BUT the rotation points are off so you get a shift. In STS and mine STS2016 we altered the cradle to fix that.

I think for it to work there needs to be a frame vessel with a parent attachment at the cradle pivot. Then a cradle vessel. the cradle vessel has a parent attachment for IUS. and then a child one at the axle point. But you need to separate controls. one that rotates the cradle and then one to release the IUS.

We have drawings of the ASE cradle and frame. BUT just images of the gauge. I suspect that you could see it from the cameras?

Like the ASE for STS 5. A key to raise/lower the cradle to different angles. with stops at 29, 45, 58

SSV already implements the IUS ASE along with the IUS itself.

 

[gattispilot]

Oh. Can you point me to a scn? Then I may just need to add extra things like the cabinets, GAS containers